Gretchen Jahn has resigned as chief executive of general aviation aircraft manufacturer Mooney Airplane and president of parent company Mooney Aerospace “to pursue other opportunities”. She is replaced by Dennis Ferguson, but Mooney says she will continue as an adviser to oversee certification of the company’s new M20TN Acclaim high-performance piston. The 280hp (210kW) turbo-normalised Teledyne Continental TSIO-550G-powered aircraft is the fastest Mooney yet and the company’s first new model in more than a decade.
“Dennis Ferguson brings a strong background in the aviation industry and experience in transitioning a small, entrepreneurial company into a significant force in the marketplace,” says Mooney Aerospace chairman Steven Karol. Ferguson spent almost a decade as president of avionics manufacturer Airshow. He also has experience in implementing lean manufacturing principles, which Mooney has adopted in the past two years. Lean principles aim to eliminate waste, minimise inventory and process times.
“Mooney is ready to take the next step in its revitalisation, having improved its market share, operational efficiency and brand recognition over the past three years,” Karol says.
Source: Flight International
